By Captain Tanya Pemberton Administrator for Program Anaheim, CA Adult Rehabilitation Center
Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-2 and Psalm 18:16-19
Opening Prayer: Today, Father, we come before you with hearts full of appreciation and anticipation. We are looking for your unending love and mercy as we reflect upon your Word. As we sit here with the theme of being rescued, our hearts and minds are open to understanding how priceless we are to Christ. Amen.
Listen to the song, Rescue Story, by Zach Williams
Devotional: Reflecting upon the lyrics of the song Rescue Story, a vivid picture is painted of God’s relentless pursuit and rescue of us, His children. The song goes, “You are my rescue story, you lifted me up from the ashes, carried my soul from death to life.” This picture of being rescued resonates deeply for those who have experienced God’s power of transformation and His grace during life’s struggles.
The concept of rescue and being rescued is a fundamental part of understanding God’s character and His intimate relationship with us. We see this theme in Isaiah 43:1-2 and Psalm 18:16-19. This will help us gain a deeper insight into what being rescued by God means to us and how it shapes our identity in Christ. The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers believe that this is a fundamental concept of the journey of transformation.
Scripture Insight: “But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:1-2 (NIV)
In Isaiah 43:1-2, God speaks to His people with assurance and comfort. He reminds them that He is their Creator and Redeemer. Despite the trials they face, they are not alone, for God promises His presence and protection. This passage emphasizes God’s intimate knowledge of His people, calling them by name and affirming their belonging to Him. The imagery of passing through waters and fire without harm highlights God’s sovereign power to rescue and sustain us during our greatest challenges.
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:16-19 (NIV)
Psalm 18:16-19 further illustrates God’s rescuing hand. David recounts his experience of being saved from overwhelming enemies and perilous situations. He acknowledges that it was God who reached down from heaven to draw him out of deep waters, symbolizing deliverance from dire circumstances. The psalmist’s testimony reveals that God’s rescue is not just an act of power but an expression of His delight in us.
Reflection: Reflecting on these verses and the message of Rescue Story, we are reminded that our rescue is not merely about being saved from physical or emotional distress. It is about being brought into a relationship with God where our true identity is found. In Christ, we are redeemed, called by name, and cherished by our Creator.
At The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, many individuals have experienced this divine rescue firsthand. Whether overcoming addiction, despair, or other life challenges, the stories of transformation and hope are testimonies of God’s rescuing power. Personally, I can recall moments in my life where I felt utterly lost and overwhelmed. During those times, it was God’s rescuing hand that lifted me from despair and set me on a path of hope and purpose. Each of us has our own “rescue story,” where God’s grace intervened and transformed our lives. These stories are powerful reminders of our priceless value in His eyes. Understanding that we are rescued by God should fundamentally shape how we view ourselves and live our lives. Here are a few ways to apply this truth:
To embrace your identity in Christ, recognize that being rescued by God means you are His beloved child, valued not by past mistakes or current struggles, but by His redeeming love. Reflect on the specific ways God has rescued you to reinforce your sense of identity in Christ. Living fearlessly, trust that God is with you through every trial, as He reassured Israel in Isaiah 43:1-2. His presence guarantees that you will not be overwhelmed, allowing you to pursue the life He has called you to without fear.
Share your rescue story to encourage others, demonstrating how God has worked in your life, bringing hope and transformation. Your testimony can point others to Jesus Christ, the ultimate rescuer. Rest in God’s delight, as Psalm 18:19 reminds us that God rescues us because He delights in us. Let this truth fill you with peace and joy, inspiring you to live a life that honors and glorifies Him.
Embrace the theme “Priceless,” recognizing your immense value in Christ, and allow this understanding to transform your daily life, producing the fruits of a life deeply rooted in God’s love and purpose.
Closing Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for being our rescuer. Thank You for lifting us from the depths of our despair and bringing us into the light of Your love. Help us to embrace our identity in Christ, live fearlessly, share our rescue stories with others, and flourish in our priceless identity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
https://usw-womensministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/youssef-naddam-iJ2IG8ckCpA-unsplash-scaled.jpg25601920Beth Desplanckehttps://usw-womensministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/uswLogo-300x75-300x75.pngBeth Desplancke2025-03-04 08:59:112025-03-04 08:59:33May 2025 Devotional: You are Rescued
By Major Cathi Boyd Administrator for Program Las Vegas, NV Adult Rehabilitation Center
Bible Study on John 4:1-42
You are not hidden There’s never been a moment You were forgotten You are not hopeless Though you have been broken Your innocence stolen I hear you whisper underneath your breath I hear your SOS, SOS. I will send out an army to find you In the middle of the darkest night It’s true, I will rescue you. (Lyrics from “Rescue” by Lauren Daigle)
When I hear the words to this song, the faces of so many women come to mind; women who shared with me their pain, their stories, their lives. Some poured it all out in a rush, others slowly meted out the details, afraid to trust. The ministry of the Adult Rehabilitation Centers is one of loving the women who come to our doors until they can learn to love themselves, and to trust in the love God has for them.
When I hear the words to this song, I also think of a woman in the Bible who has so much in common with the women I serve each day. It’s as if the old country song “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places” was written about her. We’re going to look at her story, found in John 4:1-42 (NLT)
To set the scene, it’s around noon on a hot, dry, desert day in Samaria. Jesus and His disciples approached Jacob’s well, near the town of Sychar. I love that the Bible says, “Jesus had to go through Samaria” (John 4:4). Jews avoided Samaria like the plague. They had a long-standing enmity with the Samaritans because invading countries had brought in pagan people who had mixed their race and their gods with the Jews who remained in the area. To keep themselves from being polluted by contact with the Samaritans, the Jews would take a three-day detour around the country. Yet Jesus had to go to Samaria. He had a divine appointment to rescue a woman. He sent His disciples into the village for food, and sat his weary body down, to rest against the well and wait (John 4:6). Jesus was God, and man, and that man got tired and hungry just like us. I’m thankful John includes this description of Christ’s humanness.
In the meantime, a woman was on her daily way to retrieve water from the well with no idea that her whole world was about to be turned upside right. Let’s hear the rest of the story from her perspective.
I was in the habit of going to the well midday. Yes, it was the hottest time of day, and the other women gathered at the well in the cool of the evening, but I was tired of their whispers, the things they said just loud enough that it would reach me. Whoever said “stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” was either lying or incredibly sheltered. Words hurt the worst.
So I would go to the well around noon. It was the hottest part of the day, but at least I could go and not have to deal with the other women.
As I approached the well, I noticed a man sitting down with his back leaning on the rock wall of the well. He looked tired, and as I got closer, I could see from his clothes that he was a Jew. This was unusual because most Jews went out of their way to go around our country of Samaria to avoid having anything to do with us. It’s an old story, but the Jews view us as pagan mixed breeds who don’t worship God the right way. “Great!” I thought, “One more person to look down his nose at me.”
To my surprise, he asked me for a drink of water. I didn’t expect that. “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”(John 4:7-9) No self-respecting Jewish man would defile himself by talking to a lowly Samaritan woman like me. What was his game? I wondered.
He slowly stood and looked me straight in the eye. “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” (John 4:10)
Maybe the heat had gotten to him. This made no sense to me at all. “But sir,” I said, “You don’t have a rope or a bucket, and this is a very deep well. Where would you get this living water? And besides, are you greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his cattle enjoyed?” (John 4:11-12)
There, that should stop this nonsense. I reminded him that we shared an ancestor in Jacob, and that this well was dug by him more than a thousand years ago.” Living water! I thought, humph! Whatever this guy was selling, I was not buying it.
The man looked down the well for a moment, and then he said, “People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) He then looked at me again. It made me nervous because I couldn’t figure him out.
“Oh, in that case, please sir, give me some of that water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to haul water.” (John 4:15)
Maybe I was being a bit sarcastic…
He kept looking at me, and I looked anywhere but at his face. “Go and get your husband,” (John 4:16) he said quietly.
“I don’t have a husband,” (John 4:17a) I definitely sounded defensive. This conversation was getting too personal. Who was this guy?
“You’re right!” he answered. “You don’t have a husband—for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with right now.” (John 4:17b-18)
Whoa, shut the front door! What was going on here? How could he possibly know this? The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and goosebumps shivered down my arms. How could He know my ugly story, the endless search for love, the long, lonely nights, mornings tinged with regret? Well, I did what any sensible woman does when a conversation with a man gets uncomfortable—I changed the subject!
“Sir, you must be a prophet. So, tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” (John 4:19-20)
There! Religion. A topic Jews love to talk to death.
The man looked up for a moment and then back at me. “Believe me, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know so little about the One you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.” (John 4: 21-22)
I stifled a yawn. Here was a safe topic. He might go on for a while, so I sat down on the edge of the well.
The man continued, “But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4: 23-24)
Wow! This was new to me. The Jews always said their temple in Jerusalem was the only place to worship God—and we had our own temple on Mt. Gerizim. But this man, this teacher, this prophet—I didn’t know what to call him, was saying that God could be worshiped anywhere? That true worship came in spirit and truth? I wasn’t exactly sure what the man was saying, but somewhere deep inside I felt a warming, a melting of the coldness around my heart.
I thought for a minute, but my mind couldn’t quite wrap itself around this. So I said, “I know the Messiah will come—the One who is called Christ. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” (John 4:25)
“I am the Messiah,” the man said. (John 4:26) I looked up in surprise—looked straight into his eyes for the first time. I don’t know what I expected to see—religious fervor or a touch of madness? Was he making fun of me? Would I see judgement in his eyes? He knew me, he knew my pitiful life, my longing for love and acceptance—all of this I could see—and yet I saw something else. I saw that he was speaking the truth, to me, of all people. “I am the Messiah,” he had said. I am the One you have been waiting to meet all of your life. I am not judging you, I am reaching out to offer you living water—a new life, pure, clean, free from the past and your shame and your regrets.
How could I see so much in one look, you ask? I don’t really know. I just know that as I rose from the stone wall, I was not the same woman who had come to the well. I felt a freedom I had never felt before. I knew I was loved.
I saw some more Jewish men coming down the path, and I felt shy all of a sudden. I left my water jug and ran back to the village. I went to the center of the village and began telling everyone who would listen, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could he possibly be the Messiah?” (John 4:27-29)
I don’t know how convincing I was, but pretty soon the people of my village were running out to the well to meet this man. They saw something in my face or heard the sincerity of my words. I’m not sure—but they followed me back to the well. When they heard the man speak, they begged him to stay and teach us more. So he stayed for two more days. (John 4:39-40)
After he left the people of my village said to me, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him for ourselves. Now we know indeed that he is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:41-42)
To say that life is different for me now is an understatement. Life is incredible. I left the man I had been living with, and I now stay with fellow believers. I work hard each day, but I find joy in my work. I no longer am looking for love in all the wrong places, because I have the love of God with me always.
I have been set free from my shame and guilt, and I enjoy real friendships with others who have also drunk deeply from the living waters that Jesus—for that is the name of my Savior—so freely gives.
My hope is that in sharing my story that you too will turn to the One who knows all about you—your hurts, your pain, your shame, your regrets—and loves you totally in spite of all you’ve been through in your life. He is the One who can fill the hollow place deep inside you that you have tried to fill with so many empty things. He alone can set you free and fill your life with love and joy. Drink deeply of his living water and truly live.
Questions to Ponder
Have you ever been in a situation where you were being judged (fairly or unfairly) for life choices you had made? How did you handle that situation? What would you do differently now?
The Samaritan woman lived in a culture when a woman had nothing if she didn’t have a man to take care of her. A man could easily divorce a wife if she didn’t please him. This is still true in some cultures today. How does this knowledge change your perception of the Samaritan woman?
What does it say to you that Jesus had to go to Samaria? Why do you think He met this woman whose life was a total mess instead of the town leaders or religious leaders? What does this mean to you today?
It was natural for Jesus to talk about water—they were after all standing by Jacob’s well. The Psalmist says, “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God.” (Psalm 42:1) What does it mean to be thirsty for God?
Jesus speaks of giving us living water—a spring that never dries up. How does this word picture describe His presence in our lives? How do we acquire this gift?
We started with the lyrics to the song “Rescue.” How could it change your life if you truly believed that to God you are never hidden, or forgotten, or hopeless, or unfixable, and that He hears the whisper of your heart and is just waiting to rescue you.
How could this message change the life of someone you know? Are you willing to reach out and share this good news? Start with prayer and God will lead you from there.
By Lt. Colonel Noelle Nelson Director of Special Services Adult Rehabilitation Centers Command
Instead of throwing out your old hardback books, rescue them from the trash heap and make a knife block! It’s easy, unusual, and sure to be a conversation starter. Maybe springboard the conversation into how God rescued you and gave you a new purpose in life, just like these old books!
As you are crafting, enjoy Jordan St. Cyr’s song, “Rescue:”
Supplies:
3 or 4 hardback books, of similar size/height. It looks best if the colors match or coordinate. If you don’t have books that match or coordinate, you can opt to spray paint the books in the color of your choice.
Hot glue gun
Popsicle stick, chopstick, or a pencil . Use this to press down on your ribbon after applying hot glue. Blisters are no fun!
Ribbon (I used Burlap) – choose different colors, widths, or textures that will play off the color of your books
Lace or twine
Scissors
Knives
Directions:
Make sure books are clean, dry, and dusted off.
Line up books in the order you’d like them to be.
Hot glue the books together. Some glue on each corner and a bit in the middle should do the trick.
Stand one book on its end and press it against the next one.
Repeat until all books are glued together. Press the stack together to make sure the glue is secure.
Wrap your ribbon around the stack of books and hot glue ends of ribbon together, on the back side of the books. (this is where the popsicle stick, chopstick, or pencil comes in handy!) You may want to measure your ribbon first to make sure it won’t be too short.
Wrap Your lace or twine over the ribbon, and secure with hot glue on the back side. (use the popsicle stick or chopstick or pencil)
You can also add any fun or seasonal embellishments for extra flair.
You are now ready to store knives in your new knife block!
When was the last time you looked in the mirror and truly appreciated the person staring back at you? For many of us, the mirror reflects insecurities, flaws, or the endless to-do lists of our lives. Yet, God sees something profoundly different. In Ephesians 2:10, we are reminded: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”
This truth—that we are God’s masterpiece—is a declaration of our worth and identity in Him. It’s an invitation to step away from worldly comparisons and into the beauty of being uniquely and wonderfully created by the Creator of the universe.
A masterpiece is a work of outstanding artistry, skill, and effort. Artists pour their time, vision, and soul into creating something truly special. When God created you, He did not work off a template or rush through the process. Psalm 139:14 tells us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Every part of you—your strengths, quirks, personality, and even your struggles—was intricately designed by God for a purpose. He didn’t create you by accident or mistake; He created you with intentionality and love. Like an artist signing their name on their best work, God’s fingerprints are all over you.
In today’s culture, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison. Social media feeds are filled with highlight reels that make us question our own worth. But remember this: no two masterpieces are the same. Comparing yourself to someone else is like comparing a Van Gogh to a Monet—both are breathtaking in their own right but were never meant to be identical.
When we embrace that we are God’s masterpiece, we can stop striving to fit into molds that were never meant for us. Instead, we can celebrate our uniqueness and focus on fulfilling the good works God has planned for us.
Being God’s masterpiece doesn’t mean we are without flaws or that our lives are picture-perfect. In fact, many masterpieces undergo a refining process. As believers, we are continually being shaped by God’s hands.
Isaiah 64:8 reminds us, “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Sometimes this shaping process involves challenges, pruning, and growth. But every stroke of God’s hand is done out of love, with the goal of making us more like Christ.
Even our brokenness can become part of the masterpiece. Just as a stained glass window is made of shattered pieces, our lives—when surrendered to God—can reflect His light and grace beautifully.
Being God’s masterpiece calls us to a life of purpose and impact. Ephesians 2:10 not only declares our identity but also reminds us of our mission: to do the good works He has prepared for us.
These “good works” don’t have to be grand gestures or public achievements. They can be found in everyday acts of love, kindness, and faithfulness. Whether it’s encouraging a friend, serving in your community, or raising your children in the knowledge of God’s love, these moments are where God’s masterpiece shines.
When we embrace our role in His plan, we step into the fullness of who He created us to be.
One of the most beautiful affirmations of our identity as God’s masterpiece comes from 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Through Christ, we are not just made; we are remade. Our flaws, sins, and failures are not the final word on our story. In Jesus, we are renewed, transformed, and given a fresh start. Just as an artist can take a blank canvas or even a damaged piece of art and create something breathtaking, so too does God work in us, making us reflect His glory.
If you wondering how you can live out the the truth that you are God’s masterpiece, try some of these things to help remind yourself:
Speak Life Over Yourself: Replace negative self-talk with God’s truth. Instead of “I’m not good enough,” declare, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Spend Time with the Artist: The more time you spend in prayer and reading God’s Word, the more you will understand His love for you and His plans for your life.
Serve Others: Sharing God’s love with others allows His masterpiece in you to inspire and bless those around you.
Celebrate Your Uniqueness: Thank God for the gifts, talents, and personality He has given you. Lean into them and use them for His glory.
The beauty of being God’s masterpiece is that our value is not tied to worldly measures. Trends fade, opinions change, and earthly achievements are temporary. But our identity in Christ is eternal.
When God looks at you, He doesn’t see imperfections or failures. He sees His beloved child, redeemed through Christ and destined for a purpose. Rest in that truth today, and allow it to transform how you see yourself and how you live.
Sister, you are God’s masterpiece. No matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done, His love for you is unchanging. Let go of the lies that tell you otherwise and walk confidently in your identity as His treasured creation.
Take a moment to reflect on the Artist who made you and marvel at His handiwork. You are fearfully, wonderfully, and purposefully made. Let your life shine as a testament to the One who calls you His masterpiece.
https://usw-womensministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/earl-wilcox-iUbsw_VOkbM-unsplash-scaled.jpg17072560Beth Desplanckehttps://usw-womensministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/uswLogo-300x75-300x75.pngBeth Desplancke2025-02-18 10:01:332025-02-18 10:01:50You Are My Masterpiece: Embracing Our Identity in Christ
You are Priceless! You are Loved! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. Ephesians 3:18 NLT
Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on the immeasurably great love God has for us. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.
By Captain Isabella Green Wrangell, AK Corps – Alaska Division
Based on the song “Pieces” by Steffany Gretzinger
The summer I turned 18, I started dating a guy I was convinced would be the one. He was a Christian, he loved children and wanted a family, our life goals lined up, and we shared the same calling. He on paper, was everything I was looking for.
But the summer ended, and our relationship turned into a long-distance one. I would write him letters every day. Pouring my heart into them. Drawing little pictures and sharing all that I had going on. I never got letters back. I would call him often, eager to hear his voice and share about my day. I would wait in my room, counting the phone rings as I waited for him to answer. I left a lot of voicemails sitting in that room.
As the months passed, I heard from him less and less. The phone calls that did get answered became shorter and shorter, and the texts less and less. Finally, around Christmas time we were reunited. My family drove 6 hours in Alaskan winter to meet him, spending a weekend near where he was staying so that we could have time together.
I was so eager, so excited to see him. And when we met up, my heart soared. The months of hurt and being ignored got tucked away and ignored. He was here, and everything was going to be okay. But I would grab his hand, and he would let mine go. I would wrap my arm through his, and he pulled away. I would smile at him, and he would look down. The pieces of my heart crumbled a little more each time.
The weekend ended, and we went our separate ways again. I did not hear anything from him the day I left. Nor the day after, nor the day after that. A week later, his name lit up my phone screen as he called me. The call was short, and simply informed me that he felt he had been leading me on for months now, that his feelings were no longer there, and that it would be best if we broke it off. His name never showed up on my phone again, and the pieces he left me in were scattered on the floor.
He left me in pieces, after only ever offering me pieces of himself. Pieces of his attention, pieces of his affection, pieces of his care. Just enough to string me on, to keep me looking for more, but never enough to truly make me feel loved.
It was in the season of picking up my pieces, that I learned Gods love never comes in pieces. As I stumbled into the goodness of God, heartbroken and hopes for the future shattered, I found myself enveloped in a love so strong and so deep, that it covered me in totality.
God picked up the pieces and put me back together again. Patching me up in a beautiful new design. Still me, but stronger. Still me, but with an understanding of what it truly means to be loved. God loves in totality. He loves unconditionally. He loves without care of if others have deemed you unlovable.
Romans 5:8 tells us that, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
His love for us is so deep, so true, that before we even knew Him, He died for us. Before we could ever choose Him, He chose us. When humanity was separated from Him, He sent His son to destroy the divide. And in His death the divide was shattered, left in pieces, allowing us to be truly whole in Him.
God does not love in pieces. He does not give us only part of himself. He gives us His all. He loves in totality and pours into us from a cup that never runs empty. His love is true, pure, and unconditional. It is given, without care of if we are worthy of it or not. It is there for us in the darkest valleys of our lives. And it is there for us when everything is going right.
God’s love for us is always there, even when we are not seeking it out. And at just the right moment, it will come crashing down in a mighty wave, overwhelming and washing out everything else. Every sense of doubt, of anger, of hurt, gone in the great wave that is His love. In His fullness, He will sweep the pieces up, and patch them back together again. Stitched up by His love and left new, ever more beautiful than before.
His fully given, unrestrained, and unconditional love, will leave us overflowing with a love so pure and true, that we simply must share it. His love is never given in pieces and will never leave us in pieces.
By Captain Serina Woods Haines, AK Corps – Alaska Division
Supplies Needed:
Cardboard for each person 8 x 11 (recycled cardboard)
Puzzle Pieces (500 is what I used)
1 Big heart and 1 small heart (patterns included in the downloadable instructions)
Glue
Scissors
X-Acto Knife
Red Spray Paint – fast drying
Cutting board or large cardboard piece
Cardstock for banner
Directions:
Before craft preparation
Step 1: Print out hearts – one large and one small for each person (Pattern included in the downloadable instructions below).
Step 2: Print Banners using cardstock (I used Baguet Script – 48)
Working on craft
Step 3: Glue big hear to cardboard, cut out big heart around out edge.
Step 4: Cut out small heart and glut to big heart, center it. Then using X-Acto knife to cut out small heart. This will create a frame heart.
Step 5: Glue puzzle pieces to frame heart making sure some pieces are a little off the frame on both the outer frame and inside frame as as close to each other as possible.
Step 6: Place more puzzle pieces on top of the first layer to make it a double layer. Put glue directly on to puzzle pieces. Let glue dry for 10 minutes.
Step 7: Take fast drying spray paint outside in a shallow cardboard box. Spray heart piece two times. Allow time for first layer to dry. (Optional spray some pieces a different color for a top color).
Step 8: Turn over to glue banner on to back of frame
By Major Jennifer Erickson-King Anchorage Citadel, AK – Alaska Division
Supplies Needed:
Bible (Any Translation)
Journal / Piece of Paper
Mirror
Pen / Pencil with Eraser
Scripture Verses:
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.” Psalm 139:14-16
Take a moment and look at yourself in the mirror and who do you see? What do you see?
Do you see yourself in the mirror as God sees you?
God sees you as His beautiful and loving daughter, created in His perfect image. You are beautiful. You are amazing. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by His own mighty hands. There’s no one like you on this earth. You are special. You are unique. You are truly loved
In your journal or on a piece of paper, write down all the beautiful and wonderful characteristics, qualities, and talents that God gave you and only you. And also write down your thoughts when you know that God truly loves you. That you are truly loved by our Creator. When we think about all the beautiful and wonderful characteristics, qualities, and talents that God gave us, I believe that we will be truly amazed by His creation, in us. As we all know, our fingerprints are unique to us as individuals.
In fact, the National Forensic Science Technology Center states that, “no two people have ever been found to have the same fingerprints — including identical twins.” Also, it’s important to keep in mind that fingerprints also vary between your own fingers — this means you have a unique print on each finger. But, more importantly, we were created by God, in His perfect image. We are His daughters. We are His children. We are His.
Isn’t this amazing? I really think so. How we were created in special ways that no one else is created like us. Even the details of our hair on our head is that He is the only one that knows how many strands of hair are on our head. Isn’t that also amazing? In Luke 12:7, it says, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” You are loved.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Unlike our love, God’s love is free. What this really means is that there were no conditions God saw in us when He set His love upon us. God didn’t love us because we were lovely—that wouldn’t be free love. God loves us because He loves us (John 3:16). Nothing constrains his love. Nothing will ever change that. Because we are His lovely daughters created in unique ways. More than anything, the Bible tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). He isn’t just loving, but He is the very definition of love, true love. He loves us because He created us. His affection is unconditional. He both generates and demonstrates love — and that love endures forever. (Psalm 100:5)
Each day is a beautiful gift from God. I am reminded how blessed we are and to take every opportunity to minister to each other in ways that He shows us, to be open to leading of His Holy Spirit in us and through us. I am also reminded to live my life fullest for God and God only; to spend every moment worshipping, glorifying, praising, and honoring Him in every aspect of my life. To spend quiet times with Him, to read His amazing, beautiful, and living words, to never stop praying for everyone and everything, to make joyful noise unto Him, and to always give thanks for all His blessings in our beautiful lives.
You might wonder if God really and truly loves you? You might also ask yourself, why me? Why does God love me? With all my past mistakes, with all my wrongdoing, and with all my faults? I’m not good enough. I’m not worthy. I’m a sinner. We may have many reasons to wonder and question. But the answer is YES! YES, God loves you for who you are. Because you are His. And He doesn’t want us to stay where we are. In Matthew 6:33, it says; “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” He wants us to draw closer to Him, to deepen our relationship with Him, to be thirsty and hungry for His word, and to be more Christlike each day.
“To love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second commandment is “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” which is found in Matthew 22:27-29. When we truly realize God’s love for us and how much He desires us to deepen our relationship with Him. We will feel and we will know His amazing and unconditional love for us. We know the true meaning of love, loving Him, loving others, and knowing that we are loved by Him.
Next time that you look in the mirror, know that you are His beautiful and loved creation. You are enough. You are amazing. You are a gift from God. You are beautiful especially in His sight. You are God’s original work of art. You are beautifully created. You are His. YOU ARE LOVED!!
GOD IS ALWAYS: Best Everlasting Amazing Unconditional Trustworthy Inspirational Faithful Unwavering Loving
Scripture Verses and Quotes on “Love / Loved” “If God planned you for me and me for you, then nothing can separate you from me and me from you.” (Mark 10:9)
“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14
“Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
“Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.” (Khalil Gibran) “Life is the flower for which love is the honey.” (Victor Hugo) “Intense love does not measure, it just gives.” (Mother Teresa) “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” (Lao Tzu) “The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. And the best time to love is now.” (Rick Warren)
I am a sucker for a good love story (give me a Romcom or a good Hallmark movie any day!). As a child, my favorite stories began with “Once upon a time…” and ended with, “They lived happily ever after.” I remember as a young teenager seeing the movie “Love Story” (for the record, I wasn’t born yet when it was released in 1970). With a title like that, it had to be a love story. Wrong! Yes, Jenny and Oliver fall in love, but there is no happily ever after for these two. Jenny dies! (Since it is more than a 50-year-old movie, I don’t think I have to worry about spoilers.) Then in High School I had to read a William Shakespeare play that is a classic and is called a romance. Once again, I was disappointed as I slogged through old English in poetic form, which was often hard to understand, to discover that Romeo and Juliet both die!
The best love story of all is the love story that God has written. God is love (1 John 4:8) and all that He is and all that He does flows out of that fact. He showed His love by creating a beautiful world – with trees, flowers, plants, animals, fish, birds – and then He created humans, made in His image, to have fellowship with Him.
We know the story. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, enjoying life and everything is wonderful. And then the hiccup of the love story – Satan slithered into the garden as a serpent and has a conversation with Eve (Genesis 3). That conversation led Eve and Adam both into eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The tree God had clearly told them not to eat from. Immediately they were ashamed and tried to cover themselves and they hid from God.
Genesis 3:8 says, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” It implies that God did this regularly – where He would come and spend time with and fellowship with His created ones. He calls out to them, asking where Adam is at. He knew both where they were hiding and the reason why. In Genesis 2:17, God had been clear to Adam about the one rule – eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and you will experience death.
Lovingly He disciplines them, and speaks words of hardship, pain, sweat toil and thorns, but not words of death to Adam and Eve. He does speak words of death to the serpent. In Genesis 3:15 (which has become one my many favorite verses in the Bible), He tells the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” This is the first promise of a Messiah, a Savior, who would come to pay the price for the sins of humanity. Yes, the serpent will strike the heel of the Messiah. A wound to the heel is painful but is not fatal. Satan would think he would win, but the Messiah would crush the serpent’s head, which is indeed a fatal blow.
Afterwards, God clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins (an animal had to die as a sacrifice to provide clothes for them to wear) and God lovingly sent Adam and Eve out from the garden and blocked the way to the tree of life. Not as punishment, but as protection. If they were to eat of the tree of life in their current condition of sin, they would be separated from God forever. If that were the end of the story, that wouldn’t be much of a love story because isn’t a happy ending.
Hallelujah God’s story doesn’t end with Genesis chapter 3. God lovingly sent His Son, Jesus, to be born as a baby, to grow up as a man, to live a normal human life, to be the sacrifice to pay for our sins. He was the only person who could take the place for us. God made him who had no sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus died the death we all deserved. He died and was buried. Once again, that isn’t the end of the story. He didn’t stay dead but rose again. After 40 days Jesus went up to heaven with the promise that He is returning someday for those who have chosen to accept God’s gracious gift of love through His Son Jesus.
God made it possible for those who choose God’s love story, we will have a happy ending. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Someday, in true love story fashion, Jesus, our Bridegroom, is going to return for His Bride (the Church – those who have received Him as their Savior), Satan will be defeated once and forever, and we will spend eternity with God (See Revelation 19-22). And for those who have received Christ as their Savior we can honestly say, “they lived happily ever after.” No other love story ever compares.
Hold your head up high, knowing you are dearly loved by God who was willing to pay the price for your sin by sending His Only Son to die in your place.
Enjoy Phil Wickman’s song, “How Great is Your Love:”
https://usw-womensministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kiet-trinh-WS9QYCpTAHQ-unsplash-scaled.jpg17052560Beth Desplanckehttps://usw-womensministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/uswLogo-300x75-300x75.pngBeth Desplancke2025-01-16 09:14:022025-01-16 09:14:24God's Love Story
